then a youth of only eighteen, noting it attentively, conceived the idea of applying it to the measurement of time. Fifty years of study and labour, however, elapsed before he completed the invention of his pendulum. 4. While Captain (afterwards Sir Samuel) Brown was occupied in studying the construction of bridges, with the view of contriving one of a cheap description to be thrown across the Tweed, near which he lived, he was walking in his garden one dewy autumn morning, when he saw a tiny spider's net suspended across his path. The idea immediately occurred to him that a bridge of iron ropes or chains might be constructed in like manner; and the result was the invention of his suspension bridge. 5. So James Watt, when consulted about the mode of carrying water by pipes under the Clyde, along the unequal bed of the river, turned his attention one day to the shell of a lobster presented at table; and from that model he invented an iron tube which, when laid down, was found effectually to answer the purpose. 6. Sir Isambard Brunel took his first lessons in forming the Thames Tunnel from the tiny shipworm. He saw how the little creature bored the wood with its well-armed head, first in one direction and then in another, till the archway was complete, and then daubed over the roof and sides with a kind of varnish; and by copying this work exactly on a large scale, Brunel was at length enabled to accomplish his great engineering work. 7. So trifling a matter as the sight of seaweed floating past his ship enabled Columbus to quell the mutiny which arose amongst his sailors at not discovering land, and to assure them that the eagerly sought New World was not far off. 8. It is the close observation of little things which is the secret of success in business, in art, in science, and in every pursuit in life. Though many of these facts and observations seem in the first instance to have but slight significance, they are all found to have their eventual uses, and to fit into their proper places. SAMUEL SMILES. PI-sa re-plen-ish-ing sig-nif-i-cance sus-pen-sion verg-ers Hamp-stead ob-serv-ant pen-du-lum 2 John-son (1709-1784), Dr. Johnson, a famous author. Hamp-stead stage, coach running from London to Hampstead. Sus-pen-sion, hanging. 5 James Watt (1736 1819), a great engineer. He made important improvements on the steam-engine. Clyde, a river in Scotland; noted for ship-building. 6 Sir I-sam-bard Bru-nel' (1769-1849), a famous engineer. Tour of Europe, pleasure journey 7 through Europe. 3 Gal-1-le-o (1564-1642), a great astron omer. Verg-ers, attendants. Pi-sa, a city of Italy, famous for Pen-du-lum, a weight so hung as to Thames Tun-nel (1825-1843), a pas- Co-lum-bus (1445–1506), the discov- Mu-ti-ny, uprising. New World, America; discovered 1498. 8 Bus-iness, trade. Art, skilled labour. Sci-ence, learning. Sig-nif-i-cance, importance; mean- E-vent-u-al us-es, uses which future events will disclose. Questions:-1. In what does the difference between men in a great measure consist? What does the Russian proverb say of the non-observant man? What says Solomon? 2. What did Johnson say? 3. What suggested to Galileo the idea of a pendulum? 4. What suggested the building of a suspension bridge? 5. What did the shell of a lobster suggest to James Watt? 6. What gave Brunel his first lesson in forming the Thames Tunnel? 7. What enabled Columbus to quell the mutiny of his sailors? 8. What is the secret of success in every pursuit in life? Summary:-This lesson shows the value of observation, or of a right use of our eyes. We are not merely to see a thing or an action, but we are to notice it so carefully that we may make use of our knowledge in the doing of other things. A swinging lamp suggested the clock pendulum to Galileo. A spider's web suggested the suspension bridge to Sir Samuel Brown. A lobster-shell gave James Watt an idea of carrying water-pipes under the Clyde; and Brunel was taught by a tiny ship-worm how to tunnel under the Thames. Exercises: 1. Parse and analyze: A spider's web suggested the suspension bridge. 2. Change into Adjectives-learn, Europe, value, study, difference, weight. 3. Make Sentences containing site, sight; size, sighs; slight, sleight; sloe, slow. 4. How are we to make a right use of our Eyes? THE WELL OF ST. KEYNE. 1. A Well there is in the west country, and a clearer one never was seen; there is not a wife in the west country but has heard of the Well of St. Keyne. An oak and an elm tree stand beside, and behind does an ash tree grow; and a willow from the bank above droops to the water below. 2. A traveller came to the Well of St. Keyne, joyfully he drew nigh; for from cock-crow he had been travelling, and there was not a cloud in the sky. He drank of the water so cool and clear, for hot and thirsty was he; and he sat down upon the bank, under the willow tree. 3. There came a man from the neighbouring town, at the Well to fill his pail; by the well-side he rested it, and he bade the stranger hail. "Now, art thou a bachelor, stranger?" quoth he; "for an if thou hast a wife, the happiest draught thou hast drunk this day that ever thou didst in thy life. Or has thy good woman, if one thou hast, ever here in Cornwall been? For an if she have, I'll venture my life she has drunk of the Well of St. Keyne." 4. "I have left a good woman who never was here," the stranger he made reply; "but that my draught should be better for that, I pray you answer me why." 5. "St. Keyne," quoth the Cornishman, many a time drank of this crystal Well; and before the angel summoned her she laid on the water a spell; -If the husband, of this gifted Well shall drink before his wife, a happy man henceforth is he, for he shall be master for life. But if the wife should drink of it first, woe be to the husband then!" 6. The stranger stooped to the Well of St. Keyne, and drank of the water again. "You drank of the Well, I warrant, betimes," he to the Cornishman said; but the Cornishman smiled as the stranger spake, and sheepishly shook his head. "I hastened as soon as the wedding was done, and left my wife in the porch; but in truth she had been wiser than I, for she took a bottle to church!" Summary:-"Now," says Southey, a Cornishman took his bride to church, and the moment the ring was on ran up the mount (St. Michael's Mount) to drink of the mystic water. Down he came in full glee to tell his bride; but the bride said, 'My good man, I brought a bottle of the water to church with me, and drank of it before you started.'"-Southey. Notes and Meanings. 1 St. Keyne, a spring said to have burst out of the earth in answer to the prayer of St. Keyne; and whoever drinks first of this water after marriage will always be ruler in the 2 Cock-crow, early morning. [house. 3 Bach-e-lor, man who has never been married. Quoth, said. 6 War-rant, have no doubt. 7 Robert Southey (1774-1843), Poet Laureate and historian. Exercises: 1. Parse and analyze: A Cornishman took his bride to church. 2. Use as Adjectives and Nouns-west, country, oak, elm, willow, crystal. 3. Make Sentences containing-soar, sore; soared, sword; sold, soled; some, sum. 4. Describe the Game you like best. INTEMPERANCE. 1. All over the world, each nation has its own peculiar form of intoxication: the Chinese, Japanese, Turks, Arabs, and other nations, use opium. In our own country, we produce intoxication by means of alcohol. Now what is alcohol? Alcohol is a colourless liquid produced by fermentation, and is the basis of all the fermented beverages such as spirituous liquors. 2. It looks so much like water that it might be readily mistaken for it at first sight. Alcohol is a violent poison to all living things, both animal and vegetable. Any small creature dropped into it dies. at once, as quickly as if it had been scalded. 3. When it is mixed with water, if it be placed on any animal membrane, it will destroy it. In this way it is that the delicate membrane of the stomach is destroyed by those who habitually use it to excess; and its power of penetration is so great, that there is no part of the system which does not |